Le Dîner à San Diego, Southern California’s inaugural spontaneous flash “pop-up picnic” dinner feast, will occur on May 25 in partnership with Campine, Snake Oil Cocktail Co., and Slow Food Urban San Diego. While guests are still required to bring their own chairs, linens, and décor, the partnership offers guests the convenient option to purchase dinner baskets for pick-up at the event that includes a five-course menu crafted by these leading culinary visionaries.
Highlights of Campine’s dinner menu will nclude the San Diego Charcuterie composed of house-made pâté, local charcuterie, deviled eggs, cornichons, and house-made pickles on an olive baguette; a spring quinoa salad garnished with mint, preserved lemon zest, dates, asparagus, and other seasonal fresh produce; a selection of California cheeses, apricot mamalata, rosemary brined and roasted whole jidori chicken, and more. The eco-friendly fabric bag will also include four splits of Champagne to toast the night in style.
Snake Oil Cocktail Co. will provide distinct craft cocktails for purchase. Utilizing only the freshest ingredients, Snake Oil Cocktail Co. thoughtfully designs delights to complement any chosen menu to create an artfully designed mixture.
Slow Food Urban San Diego (SFUSD), a local division of national nonprofit organization Slow Food USA, will be a beneficiary of the event. Le Dîner à San Diego will be sponsoring school field trips with increments of tickets sold — specifically, 1,000, 1,500 and 2,000 tickets — for the potential of funding three field trips total. This will be run through SFUSD’s farm-to-school program and will take place at nearby farms with schools within the San Diego Unified School District. Finally, if the event sells out (4,000 tickets sold), Le Dîner à San Diego will donate an additional $1,300 to Slow Food USA’s The Thousand Gardens in Africa project, which builds vegetable gardens in African towns.
The partnership between Le Dîner à San Diego, Campine, Snake Oil Cocktail Co. and Slow Food Urban San Diego aligns each company’s core passion and foundation to celebrate, share food, laugh, and, most importantly, have a good time, creating a dynamic event that truly represents the city of San Diego in its finest form.
To buy tickets for the May 25, event or for more information, please visit the site before May 18: http://www.ledinerasandiego.info/index.html
Guests have the following options to purchase their ticket/catered dinner basket:
• LDaSD “BYO” Guest: The ticket package includes 1-10 entrance tickets at $25/each. Guests with “BYO” tickets bring their own food and beverage.
• LDaSD “Campine Catered Dinner” Guest (4/pack): This ticket package includes 4 entrance tickets at $25/each and 4 dinners at $50/each. Guests with “Campine Catered” tickets will pick up their gourmet picnic dinner at the event.
• LDaSD “Campine Catered Dinner” Guest (2/pack): This ticket package includes 2 entrance tickets at $25/each and 2 dinners at $60/each. Guests with “Campine Catered” tickets will pick up their gourmet picnic dinner at the event.
• Campine Catered Dinner for 4 Only!: This ticket is for guests who have already purchased the $25 entrance ticket to the event but would like to add a Campine gourmet picnic dinner for 4 at $50/each to be picked up at the event.
• Campine Catered Dinner for 2 Only!: This ticket is for guests who have already purchased the $25 entrance ticket to the event but would like to add a Campine gourmet picnic dinner for 2 at $60/each to be picked up at the event.
Picnic Basket Menu – Party of Four
| One |
san diego charcuterie | house made pâté . local charcuterie . ground mustard . “OSDG” (original San Diego Grandma) deviled eggs .
cornichons . olive baguette . house made pickles
| Two |
spring quinoa salad | asparagus . spring peas . red quinoa . dates . mint . preserved lemon zest . olive oil
| Three |
rosemary brined + roasted whole jidori chicken | artichoke aioli . caramelized cauliflower .
maitake mushrooms . lentils . carrot top pesto
| Four |
selection of california cheeses | temecula honey . apricot mamalata . toasted red walnuts
| Five |
blondies . caramel corn . moon pies
Champagne will be included!
$50/per person
Order at http://www.ledinerasandiego.info/pages/register.html
The Fine Print
What it is: A 4,000-person spontaneous, elegant “flash mob” dinner party inspired ones that have taken place in France, Germany, and several other locations across the globe. The event is now coming to San Diego. The evening will include live entertainment and other creative, spontaneous and magical surprises.
How it works: Visit www.ledinerasandiego.info/pages/register.html. You can book up to 10 seats at one time. Once registered, you're in. But all you get is a table (and of course an evening of entertainment and surprises!). The rest is up to you. Bring your favorite picnic supplies (linens, plates, utensils, decor), get decked out in all-white attire, grab some chairs (yes, you even bring your own chairs), and wait for further instructions.
Go Time: May 25, 6-10 pm
Location: Classified. We're sworn to secrecy, but I promise it's a place you'll know and love. Location details will be emailed to you within hours of the event.
Cool Factor: As if this isn't cool enough, this event is a "leave no trace behind" concept — guests bring all of their own items, party like it's 2012, then pack everything up and depart.
Who's Behind it? Garrett Sathre, owner and chef of Bubba's Diner in San Anselmo and Kitchen 39 in the Presidio created the first Le Dîner á San Francisco in 2011 and is now bringing the concept to San Diego. Garrett thrives on doing things that haven't been done before; the interesting and unknown have always been a source of inspiration for him.
